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tended measures for evangelizing the An urgent request has just been commountains. Our mountain evangelist, municated to us from priest Oner, of Deacon Guergis, sustained by the avails Marbeshoo, a large village back forty of our monthly concert at Seir, is, as usu- miles in Koordistan, that we would send al, faithfully and usefully at work. His a teacher and open a school in that viltour in company with Deacon John, to lage. No place in any part of the mounSáhat, was reported by Mr. Cochran last tains has been more noted for blind, bigmonth. Since I commenced writing the oted vassalage to Mar Shimon, than above paragraphs, a note from that ar- Marbeshoo; and a call on us for a school dent soldier of the cross has been put in that quarter clearly indicates a deinto my hands, which illustrates his inde- crease of patriarchal power for evil, fatigable zeal; and as it is very brief, I even in its strongest holds in the mounwill insert it in this connection. tains. We hope to send a teacher to Marbeshoo, who shall also statedly and faithfully preach the gospel to that large population.

Aintab.

JOURNAL OF MR. SCHNEIDER.

My dear friends, Mr. Perkins and Mr. Cochran; If you would know respecting my journey; leaving Oroomiah, I spent one night at Anhar, where we had worship in the evening at the house of Deacon Joseph. Departing thence I had as companions on the way, fourteen souls. I conversed with them. One of them rose in opposition, but again became quiet. Reaching my home I remained there two days. Afterward I departed to itinerate in our region. I visited MR. SCHNEIDER spent several months at five villages. They received the word. A Aintab in the summer of 1848, and then returned part of them I visited twice. After that I to Broosa. But, as is already known, it was afwent to Berdarash; then returned home. I terwards thought best for him to join the station went again to Berdarash. In the tents of at Aintab, which he did in May last. The folthe people of Marbeshoo, also of Bezaktee, lowing extracts from his journal will show his they assembled and listened well. In returning from Bezaktee I fell in with a Turk view of the progress made at Aintab during his who seized me, saying, 'You are a Koord;' absence, and of the present circumstances of that but I showed him my New Testament and interesting field. was thus delivered; for I did not know his language. Had I been armed with a sword, I should have been detained; but the sword of the Spirit was the means of my release, I have many things to write but have not now time.

Four pupils of our seminary, who are pious young men, have to-day left us for a short visit to their mountain homes. They are excellent young men, who ardently long for the salvation of their people, and they will proclaim the gospel to them during their brief visit, as they have opportunity.

Contemplated Labors in the Mountains.

Members of our mission have contemplated making another preaching tour in the mountains, this season, but I fear they will be prevented by ill health. Dr. Wright has procured letters of introduction for the purpose, from the pasha of Erzeroom and from the English consul at Tabreez, to the Turkish authorities in the mountains; but the precarious state of Mrs. Wright's health will not allow him to be absent from home at present.

We long to scatter the good seed broadcast throughout the mountains; but this end we must be strengthened by men and means, as we have requested.

May 28. I find great progress in every department of our work, since I left last fall. The congregation, which then might be estimated at one hundred, including such of the children as could understand a discourse, has nearly if not quite doubled. Within a week we have had congregations of one hundred and forty, one hundred and seventy, and one hundred and eighty adults. Including the oldest children, there were two hundred. Such has been the increase that our place of worship has become too small. It has already been enlarged twice, and now a third addition has become indispensable. Some, it is said, stay away because the room is uncomfortably crowded. We are in great need of a commodious church.

The school, which numbered about fifty, has now increased to one hundred or more; and instead of two, there are now employed four teachers. The organization of the Protestants into a separate community has been fully completed. The brethren and members of the congregation, have been formed into several societies for charitable and religious purposes. In fact the work has made great advances in every respect.

The audience last Sabbath forenoon

was not only large, but very attentive. | quite as large as the last two Sabbaths, The subject was, Christ the sinner's only but those present were exceedingly athope and refuge; and as it was pressed tentive. The subject in the morning home upon those present, many wept freely. I have never seen so large an audience of natives of this country so much moved by the simple exhibition of the truth. It is a great privilege to preach to a people so eager for religious instruction.

was taken from Isaiah, v. 4: "What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it?" One good man, who is often tenderly affected by the truth, I observed in tears some half a dozen different times during the sermon. A young man who has long June 4. Yesterday, our audiences been convinced of the truth, but from were one hundred and seventy adults in various causes has not yet fully and the morning, and in the afternoon one openly espoused it, wept very freely hundred and ninety; and including all as the subject was applied. Another the children, there must have been two new hearer, who has been present only hundred and fifty. The baptism of two occasionally, wiped away the tears sevechildren called together this number. ral times. Many others too, as was eviThey listened with marked interest. Ident from their appearance, deeply felt observed the eyes of many fill with tears the truths presented before them. These as the truth fell upon their hearts and unequivocal evidences of the effect of consciences; and one woman, who has the gospel upon their hearts makes it the usually been noted for her inattention, most delightful work to preach it to them. wept like a child during most of the It is so precious a privilege that one may morning sermon; and in the afternoon well make sacrifices to enjoy it. too, she was again deeply impressed.

The monthly concert was very fully attended this evening. The time was principally occupied in reading intelligence respecting the interesting work of grace lately experienced in Oroomiah. The audience was interested in the narration, and the impression produced was quite solemn. The prayers offered by two of the native brethren were very fervent, especially one of them. The ardor with which it was breathed forth moved many others deeply, and I doubt if any in the whole assembly were unaffected.

Here, however, as every where else among sinful men, when some are found ready to listen and obey the truth, others are ready to oppose.

Opposition is not wanting. The enemies seem to have waked up to new activity recently. In a great variety of ways, which there is not room to mention here, they show their enmity. A poor blind girl, a relative of some of the Protestants, had learned so much of the truth as to feel the necessity of prayer. Recently, while in the act of secret devotion, her uncle coming into the house and finding her thus employed, fell to beating her, exclaiming, "You too have become a Protestant and will not even pray in our way." Her offence was, praying in a language she understood, and not using some form in the ancient Armenian, of which she has no knowledge.

12. To give variety and interest to our public exercises, we have given notice to our congregation that if any of them had any difficult passage which they desired to have explained, we wished them to write it on a piece of paper and hand it to us, and we would devote an evening to its exposition. This evening the passage commented upon was 2 Thessaloni- One of our native missionaries, who ans, ii. 3, 4. The question proposed has been to Diarbekir, and another who was, Who is it that is here called God, has spent some time in Oorfa, have resitting in the temple of God, and show-cently returned. At the former place, ing himself that he is God? As, in there are some six declared Protestants. answer to it, the character and abomina- They have advanced so far as to have tions of the popes and popery were por- dissolved almost all connection with the trayed, it was interesting to see with old church. They are regarded and what abhorrence these simple-minded spoken of by all as Protestants, as havpeople looked upon this mystery of in- ing renounced all the errors of their iquity. They could not refrain from sev-church, and as receiving nothing but eral times giving open vent to their feel- the word of God. From one of them

ings of disgust and disapprobation. The his wife has recently been forcibly taken, monstrous and even blasphemous assump- simply because he would no longer adtions, and the enormous wickedness of here to his former errors. In Oorfa the system, greatly astounded them. much discussion has been awakened. 18. Yesterday our audience was not On the Sabbath, many of the people

come to the room of our native brethren | rated from his wife for more than a year, to propose questions, to hear them on account of his religious principles. read from the Scriptures, and to con- He has borne the trial in a most becomverse. Such is often the number that ing spirit. His wife left him, not so they find it difficult to secure time to eat much from the impulse of her own feeltheir meals. So much attention has been ings, as by the promptings of her friends awakened to these subjects that the Ar- and relatives; in fact, they and the Armenian bishop has denounced Protestant-menian Vartabed and the primates of ism in the church, and forbidden his people to have any intercourse with these men. But such is the impression already made, that it will be impossible to check the movement by such means. The leaven of the truth has evidently begun to ferment in both these places, and we may reasonably hope for further results. Tomorrow we expect to send back the brother who has come from Oorfa, and we shall send a supply of books to Diarbekir, according to the request of these Protestants.

their nation, not only persuaded, but as it were, forced her to the step. Had she been left to herself she would not have forsaken him, or would soon have returned; but as her family is one of the first respectability in the place, both they and their nation have for the whole year past labored to the utmost of their ability to protract the separation, and thus force the young man back to their church. To this end they presented bribes several times to the Turkish authorities. The husband appealed to Turkish law 25. Yesterday, the Sabbath, we had against this interference with his domesone of our largest audiences. There tic relations by the Armenian nation, must have been nearly two hundred and more than once obtained a favorable adults. The house was so crowded, decision; but the force of bribes always that a few men and women were obliged prevented the execution of justice in the to remain outside by the door and win-case. dows, under the scorching rays of the sun, as they listened to the services. Though the hearers did not seem to be so much moved as last Sabbath, there was no want of interest, and many of them were evidently much impressed.

Female Prayer-Meeting.

Before our arrival Mrs. Smith had formed a prayer-meeting among the female members of the church. As Mrs. Schneider's familiarity with the language enables her to impart instruction to the native mind, the invitation was extended to all such females as were disposed to attend. At the first two meetings some twenty or thirty assembled, and last week there were more than forty present. It was an interesting spectacle to see so many of them collected to receive instruction from God's word, and to unite in prayer. Several of the female members of the church always take a part in these meetings.

After all these efforts for more than a year, the case is decided by the voluntary return of the wife to her husband. The Armenians feel exceedingly mortified that their influence and money combined could not make the separation permanent. The effect cannot but be favorable to the cause, as many have, professedly, been prevented from joining the Protestants, fearing a separation from their wives. We would recognize the hand of Providence in so favorable an issue of a case designed by the enemy to be an example to all heads of families inclined towards the truth.

Evidence of the Extensive Influence of the Truth.

I hear from various sources that a great amount of inquiry and discussion exists among the Armenians; so much so that Protestantism is the constant topic of conversation even in the most public places of business. Persons of July 13. The female prayer-meeting all classes engage in these discussions. to-day was one of special interest. It is to me surprising, as well as encourThose present listened very attentively aging, to see such evidence of the extenand appeared to be deeply impressed by divine things.

sive and powerful impression of the truth. Though the minds of men have been excited on these subjects for two

A Domestic Trial arising from Adher- or three years past, they never seem to

ence to the Truth.

20. One of our young native brethren, a member of the church, has been sepa

have been more awake to them than at the present time. It is a most favorable indication, and naturally leads to hope and prayer.

23. Yesterday, the Sabbath, our audi- | ordered them to depart instantly. But ences were large and very attentive. they were not so easily intimidated. As my eye passed over the congregation The Turkish Aga, (chief ruler of the I saw indubitable evidence of the deep place,) also protected them and ordered impression of the truth upon the hearts their gainsayers to be quiet. His interof many. In months past we have usu- position enabled them to remain and ally had a smaller number in the after- prosecute their work in peace. They noon than the forenoon; but for the last had intercourse with quite a number, and month, the house has been nearly if not the individual in whose house they quite as full as practicable at both ser- lodged, openly declared himself a Provices. To-day there were quite a number testant. He came to Aintab yesterday to of new hearers both in the morning and attend our Sabbath services, to which he afternoon; in fact no Sabbath passes listened with special interest. We shall without some new hearers. Among endeavor to keep up effort there, perhaps them was one of the principal men by sending one of our native brethren among the Armenians. This individual among them every week to spend the has recently been waked up to a sense Sabbath. of the errors of his church, as it would seem, chiefly by the reading of the gospel; and since then has been very zealous in maintaining the truth fearlessly before all, and in the most public places. As he is a man of so much standing, his case is regarded with much interest both by our congregation and the enemy, and the latter have been making special efforts to dissuade him from espousing our

cause.

Two or three individuals were induced to come to a brother's house during the interval of the services and listen to the truth. As it was pressed home upon them, one of the number was affected to tears, and the father of one of the young men proposed that a prayer be offered, which was accordingly done. It is exceedingly interesting to see the immediate effect which the truth has on many of these minds when fairly presented. This is only one of many similar cases constantly occurring; and they go to prove the fact often adverted to, that there is a remarkable readiness in many of this people to appreciate the truth. The difficulty is to get access to them. The slanders of the priesthood, and their threats, keep many of these honest minds aloof from us; but we believe that Providence will continue to bring them within the sound of the gospel as he has done in times past.

The fact that the congregation at Aintab had been divided, was mentioned in the last number of the Herald, in connection with a letter from Dr. Smith. The necessity for this measure is here more fully stated.

By the monthly additions to our congregations, our place of worship has become so crowded that it has become exceedingly uncomfortable in this warm weather. No American congregation would think they could endure the inconvenience which these people have suffered for many months. Very reluctantly we have come to the conclusion to open another place of worship, so that the females may meet in one and the males in another. Yesterday this arrangement went into operation for the first time. The aggregate of hearers in both the congregations was not quite so large as at some of our previous meetings; but the attention was very good. Among the females, in the afternoon, the interest was uncommon, one or more of them being evidently deeply impressed. This arrangement will afford an opportunity for hearing the gospel to all who are disposed to do so, for some months to come at least, though our labors on the Sabbath are thereby increased.

7. Our monthly concert was well attended last evening, and the audience were interested in the exercises. During the second prayer, offered by a native brother, several women wept like children.

August 6. We recently sent two of our brethren to Ooral, a village three hours' distant, containing forty or fifty Armenian houses and as many Mussulmen. As the Armenians have no church, 10. Last evening two of our congregaand are without any priest to prejudice tion were united in holy wedlock, and them against the truth, we considered it the occasion brought together the largest a favorable opening for evangelical ef- audience we have ever had. There fort. Opposition was not, however, were almost three hundred adults, and wanting. Soon after their arrival the there must have been at least fifty or object of their coming was known, and sixty children capable of understanding quite a crowd collected around them and a discourse, making a total of three hun

dred and fifty souls. Many came from versation with Mrs. Schneider to-day, pure curiosity; and a goodly number of remarked that she waked up several these strangers to our services, espe- times in the night and found herself cially among the women, did not conduct dreaming of what she heard in the evewith all the solemnity becoming the ning, and wept as she gave the relation. house of God. But a good opportunity An Armenian, still connected with the was afforded of presenting before the old church, was so deeply affected as to bearers many important truths on the shed tears almost incessantly. I cannot subject of matrimony, and we have rea- doubt that salutary impressions were son to believe the exhibition of them made on all present. The appearance was not in vain. of our audiences, and the state of feeling among our community, force on us the conviction, that an increased solemnity and a deepened sense of divine things prevail among them.

13. Our audiences yesterday, the Sabbath, were not particularly large, but deeply interested. In the morning the attention was so close among the males, that you might almost hear a pin fall, and among the females two or three were deeply affected. One of them hung down her head like a bulrush and was in tears most of the time. As Dr. Smith was too much indisposed to preach in the afternoon, both the males and females met in one place. The text was John iii. 14. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." Many of them were deeply impressed, especially at the close, and the whole congregation retired under a solemn impression.

Cases of Conviction.

The female above referred to, seems to be the subject of genuine conviction of sin. In a recent interview with Mrs. Schneider she expressed her feelings very freely and fully; confessed herself a great sinner, weeping freely as she made the confession and saying that she felt herself to be covered all over with sin. Another case of a similar kind, is that of a mason. He is naturally of a lively and cheerful disposition and apt to be very social with his companions. Recently, one of our church members, observing him uncommonly sober, privately inquired of him the reason of the change. His reply was substantially as follows, "I used to feel that I had no need to be concerned about myself; but I now feel that I am a sinner. Formerly I wondered at your seriousness, thinking that as you were a Christian, there could be no doubt of your salvation, but I now feel differently. Now my thoughts are such as these What shall I do to be saved? What will become of me?""

17. Our meeting last evening was uncommonly solemn. Not only were the hearers attentive, but there was a special seriousness manifested throughout the house. The females particularly were much impressed. One of them, in con

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Movement at Killis.

We have just received a letter from our native helper in Killis, the following extract from which is interesting. He says, "On the Sabbath, they have commenced searching the Scriptures. Last Sunday there were about thirty individuals in the church examining the Bible. After a great deal of investigation, they inquired of a priest, Are the words of these books' (the Scriptures printed at the mission press) 'true?' He replied, 'Yes; they are just like ours; there is no difference.' They immediately said, Then the Protestants are in the right.' Yes,' he replied, they are in the right; but we are not able to walk in this way; it is a very hard one.' Several of them instantly rising up said, with a strong expression of disapprobation, 'Do you tell us the truth? Be it so that it is a difficult road, God will give us aid, and we shall walk according to it.' Five of them immediately went and broke the Armenian fast, which they had never been disposed to do." As fasting, in this region, is the grand test of attachment to the Armenian church, they have, by this step, publicly declared their want of confidence in her rites and forms.

Farther Evidence of Religious Interest at Aintab.

20. Our Sabbath services yesterday were again well attended, and much solemnity was manifested. The male congregation in the morning, especially, was deeply affected. The subject was, "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light;" and as, at the close, it was pressed home, many wept freely. It was a moving spectacle to see so many, aged men, men of strong and vigorous frames and with flowing beards, and young men,

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